Wire-fence clip.



F. H. NULLMEYER.

WIRE FENCE OLIP.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1a, 1909.

984,438. Patented Feb. 14,1911.

Witnesses [n yen for: 1

1m: NORRIS PETER! (0.. wasrmvonm. 11..

FRANK H. NULLMEYER, OF STRUTHERS, OHIO.

WIRE-FENCE CLIP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. ft, 1911.

Application filed July 15, 1909. Serial No. 507,685.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. Nunmruruu, a citizen of the United States, residing at Struthers, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVire-Fence Clips, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fence clips de signed for use in securing the wires of a fence to the fence posts; and the object of the invention is to so construct the clips that they may be readily applied to the fence post and thereafter secured to the wires without the necessity for attaching the clips positively to the posts, the canting of the clips, due to the weight of the fence wires, being relied upon to prevent displacement of the clips. The clips are so constructed that when the fence is applied, they will tilt or cant to the extent necessary to cause them to bite into and bind against the post, and this method of applying the clips enables them to be rapidly and easily secured to the posts, without the necessity of forming holes in the posts, and without the necessity of employing special tools in making the attachment.

Further objects will appear from a detailed description of the invention, which consists in the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a cross sectional View of a tubular split post, showing the preferred form of clip; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the post, showing the clip partly in dotted lines and partly in full lines; and Fig. 3, a view of the clip prior to its attachment to the fence wire.

The clip of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is preferably died from plate metal and formed to afford a body portion 12, provided on each side with notches 13, and from which body portion extends a tongue 14. This clip is applied to a tubular fence post 15, having in its front face a slot or opening 16. The clip is applied by entering it edgewise from the slot and thereafter turning it at right angles to the slot to bring the notches 13 into engagement with the edges of the "post, allowing the tongue 1-1 to project outwardly from the slot in position to receive a strand wire 17, which rests upon the tongue and is held in place by bending the tongue up around the strand wire, as shown in Fig. 1, until the end of the tongue is bent back sulliciently to enter the slot. 'lhereafter, the weight of the wire will cause the clip to tilt or cant sulliciontly to cause the edges of the notched portion of the clip to bite into the inner and outer faces of the split post, so that no slipping will be occasioned.

From the above description, it will be seen that the clips embody the following general principle of operation, namely, the two opposing faces or portions of the post are engaged by the clip, so that a slight canting oixtilting will cause those portions of the clip which engage with the faces of the post to bite or impinge thereon to the extent necessary to prevent slipping. To enable the clip to slip along the post, it is necessary in each case to bring the clip into exactly transverse relation to the post, so that a slight deviation from such transverse relation will be sufficient to prevent slipping. To secure the fence to the clip, all that is necessary is to lay the fence wire on the projecting tongue or equivalent portion of the clip and thereafter bend back such tongue or equivalent portion around the wire by means of a hammer or similar tool, and thereafter the weight of the wire will of itself prevent any slipping. The construction is such that the biting action of the clip will be increased in proportion to the weight supported by the clip, so that the danger of the clip pulling out when subjected to strain will be entirely eliminated.

The invention is one which enables the fence to be attached to the post without forming holes in the post and without stringing the wire through the post, so that the fence as a whole will be extremely strong, neat and durable.

I claim:

1. ln combination with a tubular fence post, having a slot in its forward side, a clip adapted to be inserted edgewise through the slot and provided with enlarged portions having thin edges adapted, when the clip is turned, to engage the outer and inner faces of the post adjacent to the slot and grip said faces with a biting action when the clip is canted, the clip being further provided with a tongue adapted to outwardly project through the slot in position to engage a fence wire, said tongue being adapted to be bent back and hooked over the-fence wire, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a tubular fence post, provided in one side with a slot, a clip comprising a body portion having formed in each edge thereof a notch, the clip being further provided With a tongue, and the clip being adapted to be entered edgewise through the slot and turn transversely to the slot to bring the notches into engagement With the edges of the post and to bring the edges of the notched body into position to impinge against the inner and outer surfaces of the 10 post when the clip is canted, substantially as described.

FRANK H. NULLMEYER Vitnesses i H. L. WILSON, CARL A. PORAQH. 

